New Report Shows Fast Growing Solar Market in Grand Junction and Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) visits Western Slope for Annual Solar Industry Stakeholder Meeting.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New Report Shows Fast Growing Solar Market in Grand Junction and Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) visits Western Slope for Annual Solar Industry Stakeholder Meeting. Grand Junction, Mesa County, Wednesday 25 July 2012, 2-5 PM, Colorado Mesa University, University Center, West Ballroom, 2nd Floor. Solar Energy is now the single fastest growing energy source in the world. Since 2006, the U.S. solar market is growing by 110% percent per year. Colorado is among the top five (5) US states in solar growth. Colorado now has a growing solar energy market spurring nearly $1 billion in clean tech investment, deploying 200 megawatts of solar, and creating thousands of quality jobs at more than 400 Colorado solar companies. And according to a new report from the Grand Valley Solar Center and the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) Natural Resource Center, The Western Slope of Colorado, specifically Mesa County, is experiencing tremendous solar growth that has a large local economic impact. Since 2006, there have been over 1200 residential and commercial solar electric systems installed in the Grand Valley. In Mesa County, this now represents a $10-15 million annual industry. In the Grand Valley, there are 10-15 companies directly engaged in the solar industry. Initial estimates indicate that the industry in the Grand Valley now directly employs 40-50 people, and indirectly employs another 25-30. The pace of solar installations in Mesa County has increased so much in 2012, that 5-10 residential and commercial solar electric systems are now being installed in Mesa County every week! The full Report “Residential and Commercial Customer Sited Solar In Grand Junction, CO” will be released in the Fall of 2012 by the Grand Valley Solar Center and the CMU Natural Resource Center. CMU Business Department student interns contributed to the New GJ Solar Market Report in 2012. The New GJ Solar Market Report Press Conference, offering highlights of the upcoming report, will take place from 2-2:30PM, and then the COSEIA Western Slope Annual Stakeholder Meeting will take place from 3-5PM. Contacts: Dr. Lou Villaire, Grand Valley Solar Center, lvillaire@yahoo.com, 970.314.4413, http://grandvalleysolarcenter.blogspot.com/ Rebecca Cantwell, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association, 1536 Wynkoop Suite 300, Denver CO 80202, 720-209-6000, rcantwell@coseia.org, www.coseia.org